Wire tying



OC 6, 1931. J. s. MCCHESNEY WIRE TYING APPLIANCE Re. 18,219 v 3 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed Nov. 15, 1916 lua/euros AITOMEY 9 1 2. 8 l n R oct. 6, 1931..

J. S. MCCHESNEY WIRE TYING APPLIANCE Original Filed Nov. 13, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet '2 Oct. 6, 1931. l J, s, MCCHESNEY Re. 18,219

WIRE TYING APPLIANCE Criginal Filed Nov. 13, 1916 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 named oa. je, 1931 Re. 18,219 n UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE' JOHN snnnmN NCCEESNEY, or cnrcaoo, I'LLINo'Is, AssmNoa, nu' mrsNE assum-l uENfrs, To fran @Emma COMPANY, :Nea-on. sAN rnANcrsco, ca tnonma, a

coBroRA'rIoN. or nELAwAnn wlan TYING APPLIANGE orig-m1 No. meuse, aatea'No-v'mber'zs, i920, semana. 130,941, mea November 1s, 191s. .Application for reissue led October 31, 1922. Serial-No. 598,260.

My" invention relates to packaging, 4 and more (particularly to means for rapidly, neateiectivel using wirefor banding or s, or

ly an y tying boxes, lum er, shingles, laths, p1 other objects. In using wire for suc poses, it has been 'customaryheretofore to start with a cut length of wire and tointer-p twist the free lends of the wlrewith'p'llers or the like, thereby leaving an unsightly projecting portion composed of the intertwisted ends and apt to catch on other'objects adjacent to the one around .which the tie was formed. The diiliculties of producing` a neat tie, of disposing the intertwisted ends so that they would not catch on other objects, of manually tensioning the wire around the ackage, and of avoiding a waste in estimating the length of wire required in each 'instance, have all mitigatedagainst the-use of wire for the general purposes mentioned,gal

though wire has been admittedly cheaper than cordage of the same strength.-

To overcome these diiiiculties, m invention provides a machine which uses t e wire di rect from the coil or reel, and which automatically compensates for variations in the periphery ofthe obj ect packaged, and which cuts off the wire when the tie is being finished, thereby reducing the waste to a minimum; to intertwist each'end of the wiretie with a portiorr of the tie spaced from the other end, thereby aiiording a pair of twists adapted to lie close to the package; tohold the initial` wire loop in convenient position for inserting the desired object through it; to draw the wire around the obj ect at the desired tension and to avoid overstraining it; to automaticall release the wire loop from -its supports diiring the tensionin to kstart the twisting automatically when t er desired tension of the wire is reached; to continue the twisting after the ends of the wire have been severed, so as to turn the free ends of the twists toward the interior of the loop; to( provide a machine for this pur ose in which certain parts mafy easily be t rown into action; to provide or an easy and rapid manual manipulation of the wire parts before the mechanically driven elements are set into operation, and to insure a Stopping of certain purof the elements in a position enabling an instant removal of the'tied package and a ready placing ofl the next wire portion; to provide means for holding the object which is to be packaged, and meansfor preventing overlapping portions ofthe yWire loop from snapping out of their proper positions before the intertwistin'g is started; and to provide kmeans for raising the wire-,tied'object clear of the mechanism. Other objects will ap ar from the following specification and rom they accompanyingv drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view ofa machine embodyin'g my invention, with portions of wire loop and of the loop-support cut away. Fig. 2 is a side view of the machine. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the shaft of the machine, showing the gear and the cutters mounted on it, and illustrating,

also, portions of the guides for the twister.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view showing portions of therclutch mechanism and of the cam arj `rangement for operating the tensioning o f the wire taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows the position of the wire loop with respect to a package just before the machine "begins tensioning the wire; also, in dotted lines, the initial size of the wire loop.-

Fig. 6 shows the finished wire band.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section through the gear of Fig. 1, showing the Wire-twisting pinion and parts adjacent to the saine.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged `ragmental partially in section showing the clutg anism. y Y y Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the latches which initially hold the lower portions of the wire loop in position.

mech- Fig. 10 is an enlarged frontelevation of vthe clip which initially supports the upper driven machine having a continuously rotating pulley 1 loosely mountedl on a lshaft' which shaft extends horizontally under a view,A

nsl

table 3 through bearings 4. The table 3 has an aperture (here shown as rectangular) through which a lifter frame 5 projects, this frame being movable by means of lifting fork 6 shown in Figs. 2 and.7. Dispose within the frame 5 and normally projecting above it are guides 7, and a pinion 8 oatingly,

disposed between these guides yand meshing with a spur gear 9 fast upon the shaft 2 The pinion 8 is equipped with a slot slightl wider than the diameter of the wire whic is to be used on the machine, which slot extends (preferably radially) somewhat be ond the axis of the pinion, there being. a ined slots of lar er diameter in the guides 7. As shown in ig. 2, the guides 7 extend below the table 3 down to plane ofthe shaft 2, the latter passing loosely through said guides and operating in conjunction with the slot, shown in plan in Fig. 1, rovided 1n the lifter frame, 5, to retain guldes 7 stationary with respect to the pinion 8, said pinion being supported in an operative position by and between said guides 7, and the wire loop being adapted to be received within the alined slots of said 'des The shaft 2 also carries cutters 10 a apt'ed during a certain part of each revolution of this shaft to project and operate through slots 11 in the table, the cutters being of such length that the upper-most portions of their paths will be substantially in line with the axis of the floatin pinion 8. Mounted at the farther sides ofthe slots 11 from said pinion are pairs of spring clamps, each consisting of a fixed -jaw 12 and a spring-actuated pivoted jaw 13,

the tip of each pivoted jaw being so dis-A posed with respect to its pivot as to resist the movement toward the pinion 8 of a wire extending from the slot in said inion to the said jaw. Still further toeac side of the pinion 8 than. the said spring clamps are spring clips 14, each desirably arranged as in Fig. 9 for holding a 'portion of the wire 15 under it, but permitting the spring plunger 16-,to retract and release the said wire upon a sufficiently strong upward pullon the wire At. the end opposite the pulley 1, the table 3 carries guideways 17 for a slide 18 carrying a pair of spring-pressed wedge jaws 19.

The' slide 18 is pivoted to one end of a thrust rod 20 extending under the table and projecting at its other end loosel through one arm of a bell-crank lever 21 ivoted to the table. This lever operates on e rod 20 through a compression spring 22, .the tension of which ma be adjusted by nuts 23, and the other endy of the lever carries a roller 24 bearing against the peri hery of a cam 25 which is fast upon the p ey 1 and preferably integral with the'latter. Fast u n the shaft 2 and adjacent to he cam2725d1s a lutch bodyb26 ca g a-p unger a apte to project eyoudl he body 26 and into engagement with a 65 ratchet formation 28 on the cam 25, this plunger being continuously urged toward its said engaging position by a spring 29 acting on a iston 30 which piston is connected to the punger 27 by a strap 31. The strap 31 preferably is a portion of a rin concentric with the shaft 2, and has one en tapered to produce thereon a cam surface 31a, see Fig. 8, so that the tip 41a of a release lever 32 may enter between this cam surface of the strap and the clutch bod .26, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby moving the plunger 27 out of its said cam-engaging position. The lever 32 is fulcrumed on a stationary hanger 32a depending from table 3, see Fig. 1, and said lever is preferably continuously urged in one direction by a spring 33, and has at its tapered tip a shoulder 41 (shown in Figs. 4 and 8) adapted to engage a stop pin 50 so as to stop a further rotation of the clutch body 26 after the tip of the lever 32 has entered between this-body and the end of the strap 31.

In operation, lwire is drawn from a coil or reel (suitably disposed to the left'of' the machine in Fig. 2 but not shown lin the drawing) and is formed into a loop having two of the lower portions overlapped and both slipped into the slot in the pinion 8, the portion leading from the reel or coil being lowermost in the said slotbut being then kept above the` free end of the wire, which free end is butted against alow stop 34, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. When thus, formingthe wire loop by hand, the top of the loop is snapped between the jaws of a spring clip supported by a gooseneck 45 mounted on the table 3, this gooseneck being so shaped as to bring the clip 35 directly above the pinion 8. Other portions of the wire vloop are snappedunder the latches 14, and the free en portion of the Wire is gripped tle right-hand spring clamp 12 and 13 so as to resistv a ten ency to pull the tip of the wireaway from the stop 34, while the portion of the wire leading from the coil or reel is clutched by the left-hand clamp 12 and 13, thereby preventing additional wire from being fed to the loop'.- Then the object to be tied is inserted in the loop, where it is held clear of the mechanism by posts 36 and is placed with one side against the riser 47, as shown in Fig. 2, after which the loop is partly tightened by hand by pulling the coil end of the wire toward the left. Next, the coil end of the wire is slipped between the jaws 19 on the slide 18, so that the movingy the clamp 12 and 13 willprevent the wire from slipping, the next movement of the slide toward the left will cause the jaws 19 to take a fresh rip on the wire. Consequently, the rapidly repeated pushes of the rod 20 actuates the tensioning slide 18 and the jaws 19 so as to tighten the wire loop with a step by step movement around the package until the tension of -the spring 22 1s reached, after which the slide 18 remains stationary and the further movement of the lever 21 only serves to alternately compress and relax the spring 22, the effect of which is to avoid overstraining the wire. As soon as this point is reached (that is to say, as soon as the wire binding has been tensioned to the degree for which the spring 22 is adjusted by the nuts 23), the release lever 32 1s moved out of its stop position of Fig. 4, thereby permitting the plunger 27 to engage the ratchet formation in the cam and hence "causing the continually revolving cam to rotate' the shaft 2 with it.

A light spring 42 connects the rod 20 to the table and returns this rod after each thrust, besides aidingthe spring 22 to limit l the tensioning of the wire. During the opthe similar jaws 12, 13, of the left-hand als.

spring clamp. Furthermore, with the twister pinion 8 and the parts associated therewith at rest, the operator is enabled to easily draw the wire loop around the object by hand, for taking up slack in said `wire loop. Again, with the tension slide 18 and jaws 19 in motion under the action of the cam 25, lever 21 and thrust rod 20, thatl part of the wire loop which passes from the twister pinion 8 between the left-hand spring clam (jaws 12, 13)-to the coil, is free to slide t rough the slot in said twister pinion whenthe latter is at rest, whereby the means for :tensioning the wire loo is enabled to function without hindrance rom the twist-forming mechanism. As indicated herein, any desired degree 'of tension may be placed upon the wire loop by adjusting the nuts 23 for conltrolling the tension of the spring 22 associated'with the thrust rod 2,0, but in practice it may be desirable to tighten the loop to a suilicient tension for causing thewire to indent the edges of the package, the e'ect of which is to preclude the loop from slipping oit the package'when the wood of said package shrinks to a substantial'degree.

The wire loop having been tensioned, the

- thereby twistin tions at each si e of this pinion. The'twist' of the end portions of the wire loop is obtwist forming mechanism is brought into service by operating lever 32 by ha d so as to shift said lever in a direction/t withdraw its tip 41a from position bet/Ween the clutch body 26 and the stra 31, thereby permitting spring plunger 30 to orce strap 31 and plunger 27 inwardly to position for said plunger to contact with the'ratchet formation 28 of the cam 25, as a result of which the rotative movement of said cam imparts rotative movement tothe clutch body 26, the shaft 2, the gear 9, and twister pinion 8, said gear 9 rotating in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7.

As soon as the shaft begins to rotate from its initial position of Fig. 7, the gear 9 turns the floating pinion 8 (which pinion is kept clear'of the package by supporting said package in an elevated position on the posts 36),

the overlapped wire portained by the rotative movement n of the twister pinion 8 and by retaining during said rotative movement of the twister the ove-rlapped end portions of said loop in fixed position by the herein described wire-retaining means comprising, in the exemplification of the invention herein disclosed, the two springv clamps (jaws 12, 13), the low stop 34, and the loop locating latches 14. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the free or unconned terminal portion of the wire loop is in abutting contact with the low stop 34,A and is gripped near said free end between the jaws 12, 13, of the right-hand spring clamp; said gripped length of the wire then passes through the t slotted twister pinion 8; is then positioned above the jaws 12, 13, of the left-hand spring clamp, and then extends through the lefthand sprin clip 14, upwardly around the object, passing from the left-hand side thereof toward and down the right hand side, being then engaged by the right-hand spring clip 14, thence passing over the low stop 34 and over the right-hand spring clamp (jaws 12, 13), thence crossing the rstdescribed length of said wire and passing again through the slotted twister pinion, thence passing between the jaws 12, 13 of the lefthand spring clamp so as to be gripped thereby, and assing thence over the left-hand spring ellp 14 to the tensioning device 18,

19, and finally to the coil. The overlapping terminal portions of the wire loop are thus gripped by the right-hand spring clamp (jaws 12, 13) and by the left-hand spring clamp (jaws 12, 13) respectively at opposite sides of the twister pinion and the side by side lengths of said wire a're spaced relatively to each other as shown in Fig. 5, such spacing beingvdue to the fact that the length of said wire is in the plane of the spring clamp, whereas'the other'adjacent length of the wire passes over the spring clamp, this being the case in the relation of the two of wire are the loop,. so that the said terminal portions l the retaining means frointurningmovment are restrainedorheld in such spaced relation", c N

elllnng of thev wire'to, al predetermined tension, vvt e during the rotative moyement of the ,twister pinion, and thus'the gripped and spaced ter minal portions of `the loop are restrained t i with reference one to theother, except :that movement vento said vterminal portionsby the rotation of the twister inion 1n order to 've the desired double twist to' said wire f 'so'wn in Fig.`6. Meanwhile, the manually d tie 1s finished. keep theobjectclear of the pinion 8 at the operated release lever 32 has been released Yl0 pleted one revolution, thereby unlatching theclutch and `allowingthe clutch body, to'- getherv lWith the shaft uponvwhichvthe latter is fast, to be `stopped bythe engagement'of;

vso as topermit an easy release of the wire from the machine, I preferably mount on-the shaft a wei hted arm 37 'so positioned with respectg-.to t e strap 31 that it-,will ten-dto continue the rotation of the shaft until vthe pin 50 positivelg engages the shoulder 41 on. the lever 32. efore the shaft reachesthis stopping position, thecutters 10v (which, as shown in Fig. 7, are mounted in advance of the initial osition of the shaft) shear past the tip en s of the pivoted `jaws 13 of the spring clamps, as will be readily apparent by the relationof said cutters 10 Vto the pivoted jaws 13,shown in Fig. 1, and thus the cov operation of said cutters 10 with the pivoted jaws 13 will operateto cut oil' both of the lower wires of the loop as shown in Fig. 5;

that is tosay, one cutter clips a short piece olf the free 'end and the other severs the loop from the supply portion ofthe wire. Howlever, since the cutters are mounted in adv vance of the initial position of the shaft, the

intertwistin of the overlapped wire portions` continues aer this cutting, thus turning the wire ends in the finishedv loop toward the interior of the loop as shown in Fig. 6. During this completion of the twisting, one of the cutters 10 pushes a. slide 39 out ofthe way, thereby `releasing auxiliar-ylatches 38 which prevent the wlre portions from slipping prematurely'out of the slot in thefloat- ,ing pinion, this slide beingV returned to its operative o'sition by a 1ever`40. When the tie is thus nished, the package may be raised by means-of the lifting fork 6, which causes the frame to stri the wires out of the pinion 8; or, the pac age may merely beslid' Isala" len'v h bfaidm niet ifv thaspnfgfiiong clamps, as a're'sult of which the two lengths i gripped and held in spx'iced-rela-` l tion' at rthe slde'by side terminal portions'of and" 'the spring 33 causes it to, ;hold its tip'41a ready to 'wedge betweentheclutchbody and the strap 31 when the cam has almostcom-f lportion with the wire overlapped ends,-

the wire loop has ybeen manually disposed as 5 in', Fig.y 2, the maohineautomatically erforms the cyclefof operations comprising t e tightthe vtov'v'ar theinterior of the loop, and the sto pm "fof the operative mechanism when t ev Moreover, since the 'posts 36 time said object is'being wrapped, and since orrning-of-the'twol-twists, andthe cut, tingoiffof the twistf ends at the proper time ,l during' the' twisting operation,-

.ofthe auniharylatchesf38 which keep wires fromv slipping out of the slot in the pinion the turning of the extreme Wire ends the releasing `inspire.tenias@wanhoopis be evident from the above that after the latches 38 prevent portions of the wire adf,

jacent to the twists from being drawn against k,the object, m appliance may lbe used even f wlthobjects aving a delicate surface,.such" as paper-wrapped packages. So also, if the obJect'wrapped is incompressible, the loo after being com leted may be slipped `o the object' (in a F igpfi),

as hoops, hose-bands or the like. In accordance with the provisions of patent statutes, Ihave described the principle 'of' but I desire'fto is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried ,out by othermeans.

I claim as my invention: ,s 1. Awire loo closing machine, including means,v for holdlng the loop with each ofits,

intended terminals overlapping a wire .portion spaced from the other terminal, means for intertwisting each intended terminal thereby, and means forcutting off one ofthe said lterminal portions, the cutting means portion. overlappd;l

being so timedin voperation with respect to l the twisting means that thel cut end'will be directed substantially toward the interior of t-he finished-loop.

2.y A wire loop yclosing'machine, including means for holding the loop with relatively means for tightening the loo to a predetermined degreeof tension,

an means for thereafter intertwisting each end portionof the loop with the part of the. relaxing the wireadjaeent thereto without tension on the loop.

3. A package tying machine, including means for holding'a wire loop with -relatively overlapped ends, a support for a package to maintain the 'same within said loop, and means forA tightening'the wire to a pre-k determined degree of tension about the pack age subsequent to the formationv of the loop.

ao ormshown for example in Y so that my appliance may also be used for forming wire loops Vsuitable foruse 4. A package tying machine, including means for holding a wire loop with relatively overlapped ends, a support for a package to maintain the same within said loop, means for tightening the wire about the package to a predetermined degree of tension subsequent to the formation of the loop, and means for thereafter intertwisting two ,relatively spaced parts of the overlapped wire portions While the wire is under the said predetermined tension.

5. A package tying machine, including means for maintaining a wire loop around the package with two portions of the loop relatively overlapped, power-driven and continuously Ireciprocating means for tensioningthe wire around the package subsequent to the formation of the loop, and nor- "mally inoperative means for intertwisting a part of the relatively overlappedwire portions operable subsequent to the tensioning of the loop.

6. A package tying machine, including means for maintaining a wire loop around the package with two portions of the loop relatively overlapped, power-driven reciprocating means for tensioning the wire around the package, and means for adjusting the last named means to vary the `said tensioning.

7. A package typing machine, including means for holding a lwire loop with relatively overlapped ends, means for maintain- 'ing a package .within Said loop, means for spacing the overlapped wire port-ions from the package, means engaging a part of the wire portions thus spaced from the package and arranged for intertwisting a part of the said Wire portions, and common means for actuating the last-named means and for severing the wire adjacent to the twist, the severing means being arranged for operating approximately a half turn before the cessation of the twisting.

8. A package tying machine, including means for holding a wire loop with relatively overlapped ends, means for maintaining a package within said loop, means for spacing the overlapped wire portions from the package, means engaging a part of the wire portions thus spaced from the package for intertwisting said wire portions, means for severing the wire adjacent to the twist, and means for discontinuing the intert-wisting at a predetermined point after the said severing.

9. In a wire loop forming machine, wire tightening means including a reciprocable slide, means carried by the slide for gripping the Wire to move the same in one direction only. and means limited by a predetermined tension of the wire for reciprocating the slide.A

10. In a wire loop forming machine, wire tightening means including a reciprocable slide, means carried by the slide for ipping the wire to move the same in one 'rection only, a continuously reciprocated member, and connecting means interposed between said member and slide and including a spring arranged for rendering the connecting means inoperative against the predetermined resistance to the movement of the. slide.

11. A wire loop closing machine including means for holding the wire loo with relatively overlapped end portions', Xed and rotatable means engaging parts of said overlapped wire portions, means or revolving the rotatable means to intertwist certain of the overlapped wire portions, 'Y latching means forliolding certain wire portions in operative relation with respect to said xed and rotatable means, and means for releasing the latching means substantially at the completion of the intertwisting.

v12. A wire loop closing machine, including means for holding the wire loop with relatively overlapped end portions, fixed and rotatable r`means engaging parts of said overlapped wire portions, means for revolving the rotatable means to intertwist certain of the overlapped wire portions, latching means for holdingcertain wire portions in operative relation with respect to said fixed and rotatable means, and common means for severing the wire ends and releasing the latching means.

13. A wire loop closing machine, including means for holding the loop with each of its intended terminalsoverlapping a wire portion spaced from the other terminal, means to tighten the loop around a package embraced thereby to a predetermined degree of tension, means for intertwisting each intended terminal portion with the wire portion overlapped thereby,`and cutting means separate from the said intertwisting means for cutting ofi one of the terminal wire portions adjacent to the resulting twist.

14. A wire loop closing machine, including means for holding the loop with each of its -intended terminals overlapping a-wire portion spaced from the other terminal, means for intertwisting each intended -terminal portion with the wire portion overlapped thereby, and means separate from and located at each side of the said intertwisting-means 'for cutting off each terminal wire portion before the completi-on of the intertwisting.

15. A package tying machine, including means for holding a loop of wire previously formed to the insertion of the package and with terminal portions of the loop relatively overlapped, means for tightening the loop to an automatically predetermined tension sufficient to cause they wire to bear ilatwise against all sides of the package except the one opposite the said overlapped wire portions, and means for thereafter uniting the. said terminal portions.

16. A machine for wire-banding an angularly sectional package, including means for disposing a loop of wire to receive the package and with portions of the loop relatively overlapped adjacent to one flat side of the package, means for tightening the loop subsequent to the insertion vof the package, to a sufficient tension for causing the wire to indent the corners of the package, and means for intertwisting the overlapped wire portionswhile maintaining the tension on the loo 1??. In a package banding machine, a support for a package, wire-twisting means carried bythe support, and means for holding a loop of wire in operative relation to the twisting means and disposed for 4inserting the package therein. 18. In a package banding machine, asupport for a package, and means carried by the support for holding a loop of wire in position for inserting a package therein, the loopholding means being adapted to be released by a tightening of the loop about the package.

19. In a package banding appliance, means -for spreading a loop to a bore greater than the periphery of the package, and means for tightening the loop about the package, the said loop-spreading means being operatively released by the said tightening of the loop.

20. In an appliance for banding a package with a wire loop, a support for the package, and means carried by the support for determining the plane of the Wire loop and holding the loop vin such plane irrespective of the package.

21. In an appliance for banding a package with a wire loop, a support for the package, means carried by the support for determining the plane of the wire loop, and means for tightening the loop about the package, the said plane-determining means being so arranged. as to be released by the tightening of the loop.

22. In an appliance for banding a package with a wire loop, a support for the package, means carried by the support -tor determining the plane of the wire loop, and means operating substantially in the said plane for tensioning the loop, about the package and rendering a portion of said first means inoperative. p

23. In a package banding appliance, a support upon which a lpackage is adapted' to rest, a support to hold a wire loop in encompassing relation to the package when resting upon said support, wire-twisting means carried by the supp-ort and including a rotatable pinion having a radial slot adapted to receive terminal portions of the loop in overlapping relation; and a pair of grippers on opposite sides of the pinion and substantiall ly in alinemcnt with the said slot, for gripping portions of the wire loop to prevent enlargement of the latter.

24. In a package banding machine, wire twisting means, two wire gripping means substantially in alinement with the wire twistlng means and respectively at opposite sides oit: the latter; land means for drawing the wlre through the wire twisting means and` through one ofthe said gripping means to tension the same to an automatically predetermined degree of tension. v

25. In a package banding appliance, a table arranged for supporting a package and having an aperture adjacent to thepackage, a Wire twisting pinion rotatably mounted on the table and projecting upwardly through the said opening, and a gear disposed below the table and meshing with the pinion.

26. `VIn a package banding machine, a support for a package, a rotatable wire-twisting pinion having a radial slot and mounted on the support for movement toward and from the package, and means for stopping the pinion in a position in which the slot is directed toward the package.

27. In a package banding machine, a support across which the banding wire is fed, means above the support for holding the upper portion of a loop formed from the wire,

and means on the support for holding the terminal portions of the formed loop against enlargement of the loop but permitting the wire to slip therethrough for tightening the loop.

28. In a package banding machine, a support across which the banding wire is fed, means above the support for holding the upper portion of a loop formed from the wire, and means for twisting the terminals of the wire loop together.

29. A package banding machine Comprising continuously operating loop tightening means including a slip joint operableA to pre- -vent effective operation of said means upon predetermined tightening of the loop.

30. A wire loop forming machine including a plurality of jaws positioned for the reception of a plurality of side by side disposed wires and operating to preclude twisting of said wires 'at their points of reception, means for engaging said wires and operable for twisting the Wires intermediate of said jaws, and a movable cutter cooperating with each of said jaws to sever both wire ends adjacent its cooperating aw.

31. In a wire loop closing machine, two separated jaws adapted for the reception `of tw@ side by side disposed wires and to prevent the twisting of said wires, means for engaging and twisting said wires intermediate of said j awsand a movable member cooper-- ating with one osaid wire holding jaws to form a wire cutter therewith.

32. In a wire loop closing machine, a plurality of jaws positioned for grasping a plu-V rality of side by side disposed wires and ing at their points of grasp, means for engaging said wires and operable Jfor twisting the same intermediate of said jaws, and a movable cutter cooperable with one of said wire grasping jaws, the cutting edges of said movable cutter being limited to Cut only one of said wires.

33. A wire loop closing machine' including a plurality of releasable retaining clamp jaws positioned in separated relation to each other and operating to hold terminal portions of a wire loop in side by side .relation to each other, in combination with means for placing a predetermined degree of tension onsaid wire loop while so retained, and means for uniting said side by side disposed terminal portions while said. loop is under tension;

34. A wire loop closing machine including a plurality of releasable retaining clamp jaws positioned in separated relation to each other and operating to retain terminal portions of a wire loop in a side by side relation to each other, in combination with means for placing tension on said wire loop while the terminal portions are retained in said side by side relation, and means for uniting to gether the side by side disposed terminals of said loop intermediate said plurality of retaining clamp jaws.

35. A wire loop closing machine including retaining clamp jaws operable by contact with terminal portions of a wire loop for engaging and retaining said terminal portions in side other, means for automatically tensioning to a predetermined degree said loop while so retained, and means for uniting together said terminal portions while said loop is under tension.

36. A wire loop closing machine embodyling retaining clamp jaws operable to grasp terminal portions o a wire loop for holding said terminal-portions in side by side relation with respect to each other, means separate from the retaining clamp jaws for tensioning said loop while its terminal portions are retained in said side by side relation, and twisting means operable upon the side by side disposed terminals of said loop for uniting said terminals.

87. A wire loop closing. machine embodying retaining clamp jaws operable by contact with terminal portions of a wire loop for retaining said terminal portions in side by side relation with respect to each other, twisting means contacting with said side by side disposed terminal portions of the loop so as to leave intervals of appreciable width between the points of contact of said twisting means and the points of contact of the retaining jaws with said terminal portions, and means for imparting rotative movement to said twisting means whereby the side by side positioned terminal portions are intertwisted at the intervals between the contacting point by side relation with respect to each therewith of said twisting means and the retaining means.

38. A wire loop closing machine embodying retaining clamp jaws operable by contact with terminal portions of a wire loop for engaging and retaining said terminal portions in side by side relation with respect to each other, twisting means contacting with said side by side disposed terminal portions of the loop so asjto leave intervals of appreciable width between the points of contact of said twisting means and the point of contact of the retaining means with sa-id terminal portions, means for; tensioning said wire-loop while in contact with said retaining means, and means operable subsequent-ly to said tensioning means for imparting rotative movement to the twisting means.

39. A wire-loop closing machine including a plurality of pairs of clamping andv retaining jaws in separated relation to each other each pair operable by Contact with the terminal portions of a wire loop for holding said terminal portions in side by side relaltion with respect to each other, means for of said retaining devices for severing one of said terminal portions of the loop.

40. A wire-loop closing machine including a plurality of pairs of clamping and retaining jaws positioned in separated relation to each other and adapted for clamping engagement with terminal portions of a wire loop for gripping and holding said terminal portions in a separated condition and in side by side relation with respect to each other, and means for twisting together said terminal portions at points intermediatethe contact therewith of the retaining means and said twisting means, whereby said terminal portions are intertwisted at points located on opposite sides of the twister.

41. A wire-loop closing machine including a wire gripper for gripping one end of a wire prior to passing said wire around an object, means for retaining terminal portions of said wire in side by side relation with respect to each other` wire while so retained, to a predetermined degree ot tension, and a twister positioned for intcrtwisting said terminal portions of means for tensioning said ros the wire while the latteris maintained under wire, means for twisting together said terminal portions of the wire, and means cooperable with said retaining means to form a cutter for severing one of said terminal portions. 43. A 'wire-loop closing machine includinga frame, a plurality of movable members for clamping the terminal portions of a wireloop in lapped side by side `oppositely directed relation, a twister pinion for twisting the wire between its ends while so held, and automatically acting means operable on the wire subsequently to the action of said twister pinion for cutting diierent wires at opposite ends of the tie.

44. In a wirelloop closing machine, the combination of movable means Afor holding` terminal portions of a wire loop in side by side relation, means for 4automatically tensioning said wire loop to a predetermined degree of tension `while so held, means for twisting said terminal portions of the wire while the loop is under tension, and means for cutting oneterminal portion of said wire loop, said cutting means being operable at a period subsequently to the twisting of said terminals.

45. In a wire-loop closing machine, the combination of means for holding terminal portionsof a wire loop in side by side oppositely directed relation, automatically acting tensioning means for said wire loop, a shaft and a gear for twisting the terminal portions into a flat knot while said loop is under tension, and cutting means operated by said shaft for cutting one terminal portion of said wire loop without cutting the adjacent wire.

46. In a wire-tying machine, the combination of a slotted twister pinion operable for twisting together two lapped and oppositely directed parts of a wire loop, means for tensioning said wire prior to the operation of said twister pinion', and'automatically acting means operable on one of said wire parts for cutting the same subsequent to the formation of the twist in said wire.

47.. In a wire-tying machine, the combination of means for a package under a predetermined degree of tension means for holding two lengths of the wire in a lapped and oppositely directed position beneath lthe package, lmeans for twisting together a portion of said two lengths, and automatically acting means for cutting olf one of said lengths subsequently to the formation of the twist in'said wire by the action of said twisting means.

48. In a wire-tying machine, the combid nation of retaining means for holding terminal portions oi a wire loop in side by side relation, automatically acting means operable with'a step by step Amotion for tensioning said loop to a predetermined degre/e of tension, and means for unitingsaid terminal portions ofthe loop.-

49. In a wire tying tool, two separated pulling a wire tight around lgether two bights of 51. In a wire tying machine, the combinal tion of devices for holding, tensioning and lying together two bights of wire into a single tie, actuators for said tensioning device and said tying device, an ejector acting to bear forcibly against the wire after it is tied and eject it from the machine, and means for actuating said ejector.

52. In a wire tying machine, -the combination of devices for holding, tensioning and tying together two bights of wire, actuators for said tensioning device and said tying device, a slidable reciprocating ejector acting to bear forcibly against the wire after itis tied and eject it from the machine, and means for actuating said ejector.

53. In a wire tying machine, the combination of devices for tensioningand tying together t'wo bights of wire, actuators for the tensioning and tying devices, and an ejector operable to bear forcibly againstthe wire afterit is tied and eject it from said machine.

54. In a wire tying machine, the combination of devices for tensioning and tying together two bights of wire, actuators for said tensioning and said tying devices, an ejector operable Vto bear forcibly against` the wire after it is tied and eject it from said machine, and means to return the ejector to initial position.

55. In a wire tying machine, the combination of devices for tensioning and tying together two bights of wire, an ejector acting to bearforcibly against the wire after itis tied to ejectit from the tying device, actuators for operating said tensioning device and said tying device, means for actuating the. ejector, and means for holding the wire in said machine during tensioning and tying operations. i -56. In a wire tying machine, the combination of devices for tensioning and tying towire, actuating devices for said tensioningdevices and said tying evice, an ejector carried by said machine for ejecting the. bights of wire after they have been tied, and a detent for retaining said bights of wire -in normal position in said machine during the vtying operation and arranged to be moved out of retaining position during the ejecting operation.

tion of a plurality of devices for holding, tenf sioning and tying two bights of a wire, ac-

tuating means for said tensioning device and said tying device, a reciprocating ejector positioned forcontact with said wire and operable for forcibly ej ecting the same from the machine after said wire is tied, and means for actuating said ejector.

58. In a wire tying machine, the combina tion of a plurality of devices 'for holding, tensioning and tying two bights of a wire,

`actuating means for said tensioning device and said tying device, an -ejector acting to bear forcibly `against said wire after `it is tied and to eject the tied wire from the machine, and means for actuating said ejector.

59. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material,l means for directing binding material into the form of a loo the diameter of which exceeds the size o the object to be bound, means for automatically feeding said bindingmaterial, means for tensioning said binding material, means for severing the loop of such binding material from the supply of such material, and means for joining the terminals of said loop subsequently to the tensioningaction on said loop.

60. In an appliance for banding an object With binding material, means for directing binding material into the form of a loop the diameter of which exceeds the size of an object to be bound, means for automatically feeding a determined length of such binding material to constitute the loop for encircling an object,'means for retaining the terminals of said loop in side by side relation, means lfor retracting said loop for ltensioning the loop into contact with the object, and means for joining the side by side parts of said loop subsequently to said tensioning operation on the loop.

6 1. In an appliance for banding an object lwith binding material, means for directing binding material into the form of a loop the diameter of which exceeds the size of an object to be bound, means for automatically feeding a determined length of said binding material to said loop-,forming means, means for severing that part f the binding material constituting the loop from the supply of such material, means for retaining the-terminal parts of said loop in side by side relation one to the other, means for ltensioning the loop, and means operable subsequently to the tensioning means for joining the side by side parts of said loop.

62. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material, means for directing binding material into the form of a loop the diameter of which exceeds the size of an object to be bound, means for automatically,

, nisms operating respectively to tension said loop, to sever 1t ata determined point, and

to join the terminals of said loop.

63. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material, the combination of 'Y loop-forming means, automatic feedin means for advancing a determined length o bindin wire to said loop-forming means, means or retaining the terminals ofsaid loop in substantiall parallel relation one to the other, and a p urality of mechanisms acting to respectively tension said loop, to sever it lat a determined point, and to join the substantiallyl parallel terminals of said loo 64'. In an appliance for banding an object; with binding material, the combination of loop-forming means, means for feeding a determined length of binding wire to said loopforming means, means for retaining the terminals of said loop in substantially parallel relation one to the other, means for tensioning said loop by `retracting the binding wire to effect a reduction in the diameter of said loop, and a plurality of mechanisms acting to sever the binding wire and to join the substantially parallel terminals of said loop.

65. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material, wire feeding and loo ing mechanisms operable to form a loop t .e diameter of'which exceeds'the dimensions of an object to be banded, means for retracting' said wire to reduce the diameter of said loop `wire into a loop the diameter of which exceeds the dimensions of an object to be banded, means operable to retract said loo d wire and to reduce the diameter of said oop for tensioning the loop into tight engagement with the object, means for severing the wire, means for retaining. the terminal parts of said wire in substantiall parallel relation to each other, and means or joining said terminal parts of the wire subsequently to the tensioning of the loop.

67. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material, loop-forming means, loop-tensioning means, retaining means for holding the termin al parts of the loop in sub` stantially parallel relation, and loop-joining means positioned ,for joining said sub.

stantially parallel terminal parts subsequently to the action of said tensioning means.

68. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material, loop-forming means operable for retaining the terminal parts of a loop in substantially parallel relation to each other, loop-tensionin means, loop-joining means for joining said terminal parts of the loop, and mechanism whereby said joining means are effective subsequently to the actionof the loop-tensioning means. y 69. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material, loo -forming means including devices whereby t e terminal parts .of a loop are retained in substantially parallel relation to each other, loop-tensioning' means, loop-joining means for uniting the terminal parts of said loop, and means for setting said loop-joining means into I,action subsequently to the action of said' loop-tensioning means. j 70. In an appliance for banding an object with binding material, loop-forming meansl including devices whereby the terminal parts of a loop are retained in substantiallyparal- `lel relation one to the other, loop-tensioning means, loop-joining means operable for uniting said termnial parts of the loop,` cutting means,` and mechanism for actuating said loop-joining means and the cutting means subsequently to the action of .the loop-tightening means. Y

71. In a wire tying tool, two separate jaws adapted for the reception of two paralleldisposed wires and to prevent their twist-ing, means for engaging and twisting said wires intermediate of said jaws, and a movable member cooperating with one of said wire holding jaws to form a wire cutter. y

72. In a machine for tying a wireabout an object, a support, means vfor drawing a wire tightly under 'predetermined tension about an object restingon the supportpmeans for clamping the tensioned yWire in a positionv wherein tensioned portions of the same are overlapped beneath the object in substantially parallel relation to the face ofthe support, means for twisting the overlapped por-` tions of the wire together with the tension maintained thereon, and/means for cutting single strands of the wire at the ends of the twisted section.

v 73. In an automatic power operated machine for' tying a wire about an object. a driven shaft. a support. means operatively connected with said shaft for drawing a wire taut about the periphery of an object resting on the support under -a predetermined amount of tension on the wire. means for thereafter automatically clamping the tensioned wire in a position wherein'tensioned portions of the sameare overlapped beneath the object in substantially parallel relation -to the face of the support, whereby to prevent the wire from' loosening up on the object whentwisted. means for thereafter automatically twisting the overlapped portions of the wire together with the tension maintained thereon, and means for thereafter automatically cutting one of the wire portions at the end of the twisted section.

74. In an automatic'power operated machine for tying a wire about an object, a driven shaft, `a support, means operatively connected with said shaft for drawing a wire taut about the periphery of an 'object resting on the support under a redetermined amount of tension on the w1re,`means for thereafter automatically clamping the tensioned wire in a position wherein tensioned portions of the same are overlap ed beneath the object in substantially para lel relation to the face, of the support, whereby to prevent the wire from loosening up on the object when twisted, means for thereafter automatically twisting the overla ped portions of the wire together with fthe tension maintained thereon, means for thereafter automatically cutting one'of the wire ortions at the end of the twisted section, .an 'manually operated means for increasing or decreasing the tension under which thefwire is drawn about the object.- v

'7 5. In a wire t ing appliance, means for supporting a pac age to be banded, means below said su portin means for twisting together two side by side positioned o positely directed ends ,of a wirelooped about the package, and a plurality of cutters respectively disposed at o posite sides of the twisting means in space relation to the latter be-l low the wire ends for cutting said ends at the extremities of the twist.

In testimony whereof I- have signed this specification at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th day of October,11922. i

' JOHN SHERMAN MOCHESNEY. 

